Illegal Aliens Banned At Subsidized Housing

April 01, 1986|By United Press International.

WASHINGTON — The Department of Housing and Urban Development issued new rules Monday that forbid illegal aliens from living in government-subsidized housing and also provide for their eviction if discovered.

The final regulations also require all people now living in federally assisted housing to prove they are citizens or in the country legally. New applicants for such housing will have to produce similar proof.

The rules ban illegal aliens from receiving any form of subsidy for housing such as vouchers or cash. HUD said the regulation is similar to restrictions for recipients of other low-income assistance programs, such as food stamps.

``The restrictions are intended to reserve scarce housing assistance resources for persons with the most legitimate claim--namely, citizens and other persons lawfully present in the United States,`` HUD said in announcing the regulations.

HUD officials said there are more than 10 million people living in federally assisted units affected by the regulation, but they had no idea how many might be illegal aliens.

According to the officials, there are 4,164,000 units that come under the regulation. Federal estimates of the number of illegal aliens range from 2 million to 6 million people.

Department officials said implementation of the regulation will be delayed until July 30 to allow time for distribution of instructions and forms to public housing agencies and project owners responsibile for administering the restrictions, which include provisions for the eviction of illegal aliens. Under the new regulation, all participants in the public housing, Section 8 rental subsidy, Section 236 and rent supplment programs will have to prove they are lawfully in the country.

Current subsidy recipients will be required to submit evidence of citizenship or legal status at the time of their annual re-examination of family income which occurs each year after Oct. 27.